Chatper 87: Off We Go

Chatper 87: Off We Go
Damian Black's POV:

Nadine didn't have to like the fact that I knew what was best for her. No matter what, one way or another, she was going to follow my rule of order, even if she were kicking and screaming the entire way.

As I turned to the side to look out my window again, I could tell that she turned to face the front as well. She could sit there and sulk all she wanted to. I didn't care to hear any more from her on the topic at hand.

We both sat there waiting patiently, as I continued to look out my window. That's when I heard her inhale sharply. I somehow thought she was gonna say something. To my surprise, she didn't. Instead, she huffed before she turned to look out her window as well.

In no time, everyone was already boarded and seated. Andre was again sitting across from me as the rest of my men filled the back of the cabin. Andrew and Mathis were also seated close to her. Despite all else, she was still giving them the evil eye.

That's when we all felt another sudden and slight vibration. That's when the image outside the windows began to change. We were finally being pulled out of the hangar onto the tarmac. Soon this trip would be well underway, and I could get back to business at hand. Business that was in desperate need of being taken care of.

For the most part, the cabin where we were located was pretty full. There were a few empty seats, but most were filled, as the rest of my men had already passed us and gone to sit in the back cabin. Once we reached cruising altitude, drinks would be served. I knew that Nadine was definitely looking forward to that part.

It didn't take us all that long to reach cruising altitude, and then the flight attendant came up to me first.

"Good evening, Mr. Black," she spoke, using a soft manner with her hands held behind her back. "What can you get free this evening?"

"You can bring me my usual," I said, looking up at her before taking a quick look out my window, seeing the clouds in the distance getting darker. I then turned back to look at the flight attendant and asked, are we going to have to take a slight detour?"

She took a quick glance out the window before looking back at me and smiled warmly. "It is a possibility, sir. However, as I'm sure you already know, Capt. Miller has had many years of experience flying for the Air Force. So I'm sure he has everything pretty well in hand. I have no worries."

I raised my chin as I nodded slightly, looking back out the window.

"Damian," Nadine called out to me. And here I thought it was gonna be a peaceful, quiet flight. "There's a rainbow over yonder."

I turned to look back at her as I looked back up at the flight attendant and nodded, indicating that she should go collect the beverage she was about to bring me. Then I looked back at Nadine before I spoke next.

"When was the last time you flew on an airplane?" I asked her that moment. "Have you ever seen such a sight before?"

"I have never flown an airplane before," she said a bit reluctantly as she turned to look at me. "I thought you would've known that. Did you not know that father never let me go anywhere? Sure, I could go around the city and all, but I've never been able to travel. You are lucky."

I don't think luck would quite cover it, I thought to myself. I couldn't help it as my eyes widened at her last statement. Then, I caught the fact that I allowed her to see my expression change before I caught it. I immediately adjusted my expression whenever I looked across at Andre.

Andre even shrugged his shoulders briefly just as his eyes went wide for a moment, all before he relaxed his expression and posture again. That alone was enough to answer the question that he wasn't even sure whether or not she had flown at all.

"Well then," I said as I stood up to my feet and stretched my arms up over my head. "You will see many new things while we are in the air. There are many things you will definitely experience on this trip. Then, on the way back, you will get to join a certain club. But as for now, I will let you enjoy the sights."

I knew she had figured out exactly what I had intended to say without even saying it. Her jaw dropped open as she scoffed as I took several steps back towards the back cabin.

"You can't possibly think that," Nadine scoffed at me.

At that particular moment when I turned to walk towards the back part of the cabin, I suddenly stopped in my tracks and turned around to face Nadine. I could not believe her arrogance. Even now, she thought she could question me. Question my authority. Well enough was enough. I was going to make an example of her right here and now. And I was going to do it for everyone to see.

"You will do what you are told to do, Nadine," I told her, staring down at her as I stood just over her at that precise moment. "You will accept that as fact. There will be no more questions as to what you will be expected to do. You will be told, and you will complete that task. No matter what I tell you. That's it. End of story."

She crossed her arms again in front of her chest, showing signs of frustration and visual defeat. She even turned to the side and looked down at the floor in front of her. She took in a deep breath and huffed several times, telling me that she was overly upset with what I had to tell her. She brought this on herself. It didn't matter to me whether she liked it or not.

This is how it was. And this is how it was going to play out every time. It was my way with a highway. Germaine may have rolled over a time or two when she got used to that. I actually had a spine.

"You have nothing left to say? Just know that you don't have to like this," I said sternly. "Nothing else? Good."